Do you know paper is like chocolate, that you can always melt it down and make a new sheet?

When Japanese artist Rei Ito discovered this secret while working in a framing studio, he decided not to buy a sheet of paper from the stationery shop any more. Since then, he was always making paper with or without a purpose. Later he also learnt how to dye handmade paper with natural pigments. He used self-made paper to create fabulous illustrations for visualising the stories that his wife Chie wrote. Sometimes he made paper just for fun, to see how he could better control the paper's whiteness, texture, and tenderness.

For him, there is no such thing as good or bad paper. Each kind of paper has its purpose and function. Just like omnipotent people don't exist, omnipotent paper doesn't exist either. So he keeps every piece of paper he made or received in life because he believes the paper, no matter how hard or soft, rough or smooth, strong or fragile, will come in handy one day.

This time in Bergen, he wants to share his joy of making paper with us. He is a bit worried that making paper might be quite boring for others. So he also prepared a lot of anecdotes and pearls of wisdom about papermaking and craftsmanship to entertain the papermakers while waiting for their pulps to turn into a piece of treasure.

The workshop take place on 18th Feb (Sat) at Northing Space.

Please bring a clothes iron, if you have one.